A sonic reactor for transferring kinetic energy to a process fluid medium has a resonant element horizontally oriented and mounted to the two resonance units using two or more nodal support rings located at the nodal positions of the resonant element. The nodal support rings are adjustable in position relative to the resonant element and the resonance units to permit positioning of the rings directly at the nodal positions during operation. The sonic reactor has a grinding or mixing chamber mounted at one or both of the free ends of the resonant element. The sonic reactor is used for applications that include fly ash beneficiation, pulverization and dispersion; fine ore grinding; preparing ready mix cement formulations; oil sands cuttings for oil recovery; spilled oil, water and oily water storage treatment; organic and inorganic industrial wastewater treatment; environmental remediation of contaminated soils; sodium dispersion and destruction of PCBs; biosludge conditioning; cellulosic biofuels processing; lignin processing; dispersion and deagglomeration of pigments; and dye destruction.

Textiles are provided that include fibrous cellulosic materials having an -cellulose content of less than about 93%, the fibrous materials being spun, woven, knitted, or entangled. The fibrous cellulosic materials can be irradiated with a dose of ionizing radiation that is sufficient to increase the molecular weight of the cellulosic materials without causing significant depolymerization of the cellulosic materials. Methods of treating textiles that include irradiating the textiles are also provided.

Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy or sugary materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

A sonic reactor for transferring kinetic energy to a process fluid medium has a resonant element horizontally oriented and mounted to the two resonance units using two or more nodal support rings located at the nodal positions of the resonant element. The nodal support rings are adjustable in position relative to the resonant element and the resonance units to permit positioning of the rings directly at the nodal positions during operation, where, for example, adjustment may be required due to changes in the total mass attached to one or both free ends of the resonant unit. The sonic reactor has a grinding or mixing chamber mounted at one or both of the free ends of the resonant element.

Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

Methods for forming melt processable, actinic radiation polymerizable and crosslinkable adhesives are described. In certain versions, the adhesives or pre-adhesive compositions include two initiators and are polymerized and/or crosslinked by exposure to actinic radiation such as UV light or electron beam radiation. Also described are pre-adhesive compositions including polymerizable monomers, articles including the adhesives, and various methods and systems related to the adhesives and their application. In addition, various apparatuses are described for polymerizing or crosslinking the compositions.

Methods for forming melt processable, actinic radiation polymerizable and crosslinkable adhesives are described. In certain versions, the adhesives or pre-adhesive compositions include two initiators and are polymerized and/or crosslinked by exposure to actinic radiation such as UV light or electron beam radiation. Also described are pre-adhesive compositions including polymerizable monomers, articles including the adhesives, and various methods and systems related to the adhesives and their application. In addition, various apparatuses are described for polymerizing or crosslinking the compositions.

A device includes an insulated reaction chamber, light sources above a stirring module, the light sources surrounding the reaction chamber, and holders containing reaction vessels, the holders configured to fit within the insulated reaction chamber in a manner that enables an even distribution of light between the reaction vessels.

Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy or sugary materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.

A method for synthesizing silica nanofibers using sound waves is provided. The method includes providing a solution of polyvinyl pyrrolidone, adding sodium citrate and ammonium hydroxide to form a first mixture, adding a silica-based compound to the solution to form a second mixture, and sonicating the second mixture to synthesize a plurality of silica nanofibers having an average cross-sectional diameter of less than 70 nm and having a length on the order of at least several hundred microns. The method can be performed without heating or electrospinning, and instead includes less energy intensive strategies that can be scaled up to an industrial scale. The resulting nanofibers can achieve a decreased mean diameter over conventional fibers. The decreased diameter generally increases the tensile strength of the silica nanofibers, as defects and contaminations decrease with the decreasing diameter.